Invasion, Only Strength Grants Initiative

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

When Dr. Redwater officially announced that Serena's hands were healed, Prince Nolan also declared it was time to leave.

Dr. Redwater cheered on the spot, while Dr. Marcus Guile and the Master of Mystic Healer Valley were visibly reluctant, wishing they could all stay a little longer.

Bean and his master didn’t care much; for them, anywhere was the same. As long as Dr. Marcus Guile was around, they had no fear of Demon Sect poisoning them.

With Prince Nolan and Serena preparing to leave, Rowan Bloom—host and Demon Sect Master—naturally came to see them off. He brought Zed along and strolled out to the stone house.

“Zed, today your father will show you how Eastlyn’s Ninth Royal Uncle kneels before me, begging for mercy.” Rowan Bloom suppressed his excitement, mentally reviewing his plan one last time. Satisfied, he led Zed forward.

Just then, Prince Nolan and Serena stepped outside too. Both sides stopped, half a meter apart.

“Prince Nolan.” Rowan Bloom’s voice was much warmer than at their first meeting, but there was a hint of contempt.

Prince Nolan smirked inwardly but kept his face neutral. He nodded to Rowan Bloom, "Sect Master Rowan, let's go."

Treating Rowan Bloom as just a guide, Prince Nolan’s attitude annoyed him, and it showed. He sneered, "Go? Where exactly does Prince Nolan think he’s going?"

“Thank you for your hospitality, Sect Master Rowan. My beloved consort’s hands are fully healed now—it’s time for us to leave.” Prince Nolan explained with perfect courtesy, but to Rowan Bloom, his politeness just meant he was easy to bully.

“Hahaha…” Rowan Bloom laughed wildly. “Leave? Prince Nolan, do you think my Holy Sect’s sanctuary is some roadside inn? You come and go as you please—what do you take me for?”

“I take you for nothing. To me, you’re just a jumping clown.” Prince Nolan thought to himself, ‘No wonder the Demon Sect fell apart under Rowan Bloom’s leadership—so reckless and arrogant.’

“You…” Rowan Bloom’s face flushed with anger, his fists clenching as he fought the urge to strike Prince Nolan.

Prince Nolan didn’t flinch, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Sect Master Rowan, if I were you, I’d never reveal my intentions before things are settled. You’re far too impatient.”

Nolan’s warning was obvious, but Rowan Bloom was so intoxicated by his imagined victory that he didn’t notice at all.

Rowan Bloom sneered, “How I run things is none of your concern. Prince Nolan, I’ve hosted you for nearly half a month, and now you just leave. How am I supposed to explain this to my sect?”

“Oh? What kind of explanation does Sect Master Rowan want?” Prince Nolan asked, unhurried and unfazed.

Rowan Bloom failed to notice how unusually calm Prince Nolan’s group was, nor did he see Bean’s mocking grin. Convinced of his own victory, he said with full confidence, “I’m not unreasonable. My son told me Miss Feng’s medical skills are extraordinary. Under her care, my son’s condition has improved. I want Miss Feng to stay in the Holy Sect and continue treating him.”

This was outright robbery.

Sure enough, he’d learned to be patient.

Prince Nolan sized up Rowan Bloom, speaking slowly: “You think you can keep my people here? Sect Master Rowan, did your son never tell you what happens to those who cross me?”

Meeting Prince Nolan’s deep, unfathomable gaze, Zed couldn’t help but recall everything that happened in the prison. Fear flashed in his eyes, and he shrank back, whispering, “Father.”

Zed’s timidity annoyed Rowan Bloom, who scolded him on the spot: “Zed, remember—you’re the Holy Sect’s Young Master. Don’t disgrace our sect.”

Zed bowed his head, saying nothing. Rowan Bloom ignored him and continued to Prince Nolan: “Let’s be blunt, Prince Nolan—Serena will stay whether she wants to or not. In the Holy Sect, I decide everything. You don’t get a say.”

That arrogant, self-important attitude made Serena roll her eyes. “Sect Master Rowan, if you want to keep me here, you’re not qualified. If you’re smart, you’ll step aside—otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Rowan Bloom interrupted. “Miss Feng, don’t bother threatening me—I’m not scared. All of you were poisoned the first day you arrived. Without my antidote, you’ll last at most three months.”

“Poisoned? We have four doctors here, and none of us found any poison. You say we’re poisoned and we’re supposed to believe it? Sect Master Rowan, do you think we’re that easy to scare?” Arrogant, self-deluded, totally clueless—these two really were alike.

“Doctors? The poison you’ve got is my Holy Sect’s Corpse Worms. Even the Master of Mystic Healer Valley can’t detect them—they’re not ordinary poison.” Rowan Bloom boasted.

He’d chosen the secret Corpse Worms precisely because the Master of Mystic Healer Valley was present. As for Serena? Sect Master Rowan didn’t believe she had any real skills.

“So you’re saying everyone in our group is infected with Corpse Worms?” Serena smiled, showing not the slightest hint of worry.

But Rowan Bloom, arrogant as ever, nodded without a care. “That’s right.”

Still, he couldn’t help wondering—why weren’t they afraid? Did they not understand how terrifying Corpse Worms were?

Rowan Bloom swept his gaze over Prince Nolan’s group, finally landing on Bean. “What are you laughing at?”

“I’ll laugh if I want to. What, does being infected with Corpse Worms mean I can’t even laugh?” Bean shot back, making Rowan Bloom furious.

“Go ahead and laugh. Without my sect’s secret medicine, the Corpse Worms will eat away your body bit by bit. In three months, you’ll be nothing but a skeleton.”

If Serena weren’t here, Bean really might end up a skeleton from the Corpse Worms. But now?

“Skeleton, huh? You think I’m scared of you?” Bean puffed up, swaggering forward. He was about to say more, but Prince Nolan gestured for him to stop.

Bean wasn’t happy about it, but he shut up obediently.

Prince Nolan was someone he truly didn’t dare mess with.

“What do you want?” Prince Nolan asked Rowan Bloom.

“Hahaha! So Prince Nolan is afraid of death after all—I thought you were fearless.” Rowan Bloom was positively smug, but to Serena and the others, he just looked like a fool begging for trouble.

Talk about being full of himself.

Honestly, if not for the unexpected variable—Serena—Rowan Bloom’s plan might have worked, at least halfway.

“Everyone fears death, and I’m no exception. Go ahead, Sect Master Rowan—what do you want? I’ll try my best to satisfy you.” Rowan Bloom was so caught up in his own triumph, he didn’t realize Prince Nolan was mocking him.

Zed noticed the sarcasm and tried to stop Rowan Bloom, but it was too late. Rowan Bloom blurted out his demand: “Nolan Dongling, I hate your arrogant, high-and-mighty attitude. I want you to kneel at my feet, lick my shoes, and beg me for mercy.”

From the moment he first saw Prince Nolan, Rowan Bloom couldn’t stand him. He’d wanted to crush Nolan underfoot—and now, given the chance, he wouldn’t let it slip away.

Aside from his birth, what did Nolan have that Rowan Bloom didn’t? Why should Rowan Bloom be stuck in this miserable place while Nolan lived in luxury?

It wasn’t fair… Rowan Bloom was determined to destroy Nolan Dongling!

Author’s note: Please vote for me! I really did my best—my hands are so sore.